JP2004072314A - Network facsimile apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically designate a name of data and to improve operability in a network facsimile apparatus provided with a mail transmission/reception function. <P>SOLUTION: The network facsimile apparatus is provided with a means reading picture information of an original, outputting picture data and transmitting and receiving picture data through a display means and a public line and a means transmitting/receiving mail data through a network. A plurality of names added to electronic mails transmitting mail data in RAM. When CPU transmits mail data, it is determined whether the name is designated in mail data or not. When the name is determined to be not designated in mail data, one of a plurality of registered names is designated for the transmission name of mail data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus which automatically sets a subject of an e-mail when data is transmitted using an e-mail mechanism, thereby improving usability.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Facsimile apparatuses are widely used as familiar OA equipment because they can easily transmit and receive image data such as characters and figures. Among conventional facsimile apparatuses, there is a network facsimile apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as "facsimile apparatus") having a function of transmitting and receiving electronic mail (also referred to as e-mail) data (hereinafter, referred to as "mail data") via the Internet. is there.
Among such conventional facsimile apparatuses, for example, there is a facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-341465. This facsimile apparatus stores at least one of an address of a transmission destination and an e-mail transmission title as transmission history data, and inputs and stores it in advance by an operator, and the operator inputs an address and a transmission title. At this time, the user can select a desired address or transmission title by utilizing the past transmission history data or input data, thereby improving operability.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of this conventional facsimile apparatus, when an operator inputs an address or a transmission title, an input operation for designating a transmission title, that is, an e-mail subject (hereinafter, referred to as a “subject”) must be performed. . Therefore, even when the same subject may be used each time (when the same subject is sufficient), an input operation for designating the subject has to be performed, and there is a problem that the input operation for the subject is troublesome.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus having a mail transmission / reception function by automatically designating a subject and improving usability.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides image information reading means for reading image information of a document and outputting image data, display means provided with a predetermined display device, and means for transmitting and receiving image data via a public line In a network facsimile machine having means for transmitting and receiving mail data via a network, a subject registration means for registering a plurality of subjects to be attached to an e-mail for transmitting the mail data, A subject judging means for judging whether or not the subject is specified in the mail data, and, when the means judges that the subject is not specified in the mail data, the subject is registered in the subject registering means. A subject designation means for designating any one of the plurality of subjects as a transmission subject of the mail data.
In this network facsimile apparatus, the subject designation means may designate a specific subject registered in the subject registration means as the transmission subject.
Further, it is preferable to provide a means for selecting any one of the plurality of subjects registered in the subject registration means as the transmission subject.
The subject designation means may sequentially designate the subject registered in the subject registration means as the transmission subject according to the designated priority.
The subject registration means may be configured to be able to register the subject for each user-specific identification code.
[0006]
The network facsimile apparatus includes an identification code determining unit that determines whether an identification code is specified, and whether the subject is registered in correspondence with the identification code determined to be specified by the identification code. Is preferably provided, and the subject designation means designates, as the transmission subject, a subject determined to be registered by the registration possible / impossible decision means.
Also, an address registering means for determining whether or not a mail address is registered corresponding to the identification code as a transmission destination of the mail data is provided, and the subject designation means comprises: If the identification code is not specified, the identification code determination means determines that the identification code is specified, and if the e-mail address is registered corresponding to the identification code, the address registration means When it is determined, a mail address registered corresponding to the identification code can be designated as the transmission subject.
[0007]
Further, name registration means for judging whether or not the user code name is registered corresponding to the identification code as a transmission destination of the mail data is provided, and the subject designation means includes: Is not specified, the identification code determining means determines that the identification code is specified, and if the user code name is registered corresponding to the identification code, the name registration is performed. When the means determines, the user code name registered corresponding to the identification code may be designated as the transmission subject.
In this network facsimile apparatus, the subject designation means may designate the transmission subject using a source facsimile number or a source name.
Further, the subject designation means may designate the transmission subject in the order of the subject, the mail address, the user code name, the source facsimile number or the source name registered corresponding to the identification code. .
In any of the network facsimile apparatuses, it is preferable to provide a means for displaying the subject designated by the subject designating means on the display means.
The network facsimile apparatus may include an editing unit for editing the subject displayed on the display unit by an operation input.
The editing means may be configured to be editable using the subject registered in the subject registration means.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a communication network 100 for performing data communication using the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, a communication network 100 is configured by connecting facsimile machines 20 and 30 and personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as “PCs”, which are referred to as PCs in the drawings) 21 and 31 via the Internet 15. . In the communication network 100, the facsimile device 20 or the personal computer 21 is a source of mail data, and the facsimile device 30 receives the mail data. Further, the personal computer 31 is a transmission destination of the mail data.
[0009]
When an e-mail is transmitted from the facsimile device 20 or the personal computer 21, the mail data is transmitted via the Internet 15, and the facsimile device 30 receives the mail data. The facsimile apparatus 30 prints out the received mail data on a predetermined sheet and outputs the data. The e-mail transmitted and received via the communication network 100 mainly includes document information transmitted as a message, and the document information , Information such as image information and audio information is attached as an attached file. In addition, while the electronic mail passes through the Internet 15, the document information is converted into a text format, and the attached information such as image information and audio information is also converted into the text format.
[0010]
Next, a basic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 taking the above-described facsimile apparatus 20 as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic internal configuration of the facsimile machine 20. 1, a facsimile apparatus 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, an operation display unit 4, and an image information reading unit. 5, an image information output unit 6, an encoding / decoding unit 7, an image information storage unit 8, a modem 9, a PSTN control unit 10, and a LAN control unit 11. Elements are connected to the data bus 12.
The CPU 1 is a unit that controls the operation of the entire facsimile machine 20 according to a program stored in the ROM 2 and operates as various units that are a feature of the present invention.
[0011]
The ROM 2 stores a basic program of the facsimile machine executed by the CPU 1 and a program for realizing the functions characteristic of the present invention, a communication control procedure, a network control procedure, a mail data transfer procedure, permanent data, and the like. This is a read-only storage unit. The RAM 3 is used as a program data area, and operates as a subject registration unit that registers a subject for each user code described below.
The operation display unit 4 has operation keys including mechanical keys and touch panel keys having predetermined numeric keys and character input keys, and is an operation input unit that exchanges data with the CPU 1 via the data bus 12. Facsimile operations such as facsimile transmission of image information and transmission of e-mail data (for example, input of destination facsimile number, start / stop, setting of subject, input of destination e-mail address, etc.) and confirmation of transmission / reception status Information necessary for using the apparatus is input by operating the operation keys and input to the CPU 1. The operation keys include a numeric keypad for inputting a facsimile number and the like, a start key, a stop key, a redial key, a one-touch key used for a series of operations at the time of facsimile transmission, and an abbreviated key for selecting an abbreviated number.
[0012]
The operation display unit 4 includes an LED display device, a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying a subject input by an operation key, a mail address of a transmission destination, a current operation state and time, and a buzzer. It is also a display means having a sounding device such as, and operates by inputting an instruction from the CPU 1.
The image information reading unit 5 is an image information reading unit that reads an image of a document in which characters and figures are written on a sheet with an image sensor, converts the image into an electric signal, and inputs image data, and is also called a scanner unit. For example, it is an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
The image information output unit 6 is for inputting received image data, mail data, and image information (for example, information such as a facsimile number of a transmission source and a reception time) indicating a reception result to form an image on a sheet and print the image. This is a writing means provided with the mechanism (1). The image information output unit 6 may be a device capable of recording an image on paper, such as an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, and a toner jet system.
[0013]
The encoding / decoding unit 7 encodes / decodes and compresses the input image data, and stores the compressed image data in the image information storage unit 8. Also, the input compressed image data is expanded and input to the image information output unit 6 as raw data.
The image information storage unit 8 is an image information storage unit that stores image data for reading and transmitting a document, received image data, and mail data, and is capable of storing image data at least temporarily. And a plurality of received message data and transmitted message data are stored as files. For the image information storage unit 8, for example, a magnetic disk device is used. The modem 9 performs a modulation or demodulation process required when transmitting and receiving image data and mail data.
[0014]
The PSTN control unit 10 receives an instruction from the CPU 1, controls an NCU (Network Control Unit) unit, and connects to the PSTN network to control the communication by facsimile transmission and reception of image data with a communication terminal on the other side. Further, the PSTN control unit 10 operates the modem 9 to demodulate the received data (modulated) from the other communication terminal and modulate the transmission data. Further, the tone signal is detected together with the detection of the pulse of the ringing voltage detected by the NCU unit and the detection of the DTMF signal, and a call is transmitted at the time of transmission.
The LAN control unit 11 transmits and receives mail data via a network (the Internet 15), decodes received data or encodes data to be transmitted to the network, and performs buffering of transmission frames and reception frames. Network control means.
[0015]
Next, the function of the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration will be specifically described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, taking the above-described facsimile apparatus 20 as an example. Steps are abbreviated as S in the flowchart shown in FIG.
In the facsimile apparatus 20, the CPU 1 reads a predetermined processing program stored in the ROM 2 and operates each component to realize various functions characteristic of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation relating to a subject determining process which is a feature of the facsimile apparatus 20 according to the present invention.
[0016]
The facsimile machine 20 executes the subject determining process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and the CPU 1 activates the image information reading unit 5 to read the image information of the set document, and uses the read image data as an attached file. Create the attached mail data. Then, when the operator performs various designation operations for designating the transmission destination of the facsimile machine 30 or the personal computer 31 to which the mail data is to be transmitted, and then depresses the start key to start the transmission operation, the CPU 1 activates the ROM 2. In accordance with the program stored in the e-mail, the subject determining process for the created mail data is started.
When the subject determining process is started, the process proceeds to step 1, where the CPU 1 operates as a subject determining unit, and determines whether or not the subject has been designated by the operator among various designation operations executed before that. . Here, if it is determined that the subject has been designated by the operator, the subject determining process is terminated, and the subject specified in the various designation operations already performed is appended.
[0017]
If it is determined in step 1 that the subject has not been specified, the process proceeds to step 2 in which the CPU 1 operates as an identification code determining unit to determine whether a user code has been specified. This user code is an identification code unique to the user (operator), and is used to manage the communication history from the designation when the operator designates when sending the mail data. Used to determine whether (send) was performed. This user code registers a plurality of subjects for each, and which of the registered subjects is to be used, that is, registers the priority use designation of the subject, so that the specific subject is And the name can also be registered. Furthermore, it is also possible to register a distribution destination for distribution when the transmission destination specifies a user code as an F code at the time of transmission. The user code is stored in the RAM 3 together with such information. Further, when the operator operates the operation display section 4, the operator can select a subject to be designated for preferential use from among registered subjects.
[0018]
If it is determined in step 2 that the user code has been designated, the process proceeds to step 3 in which the CPU 1 operates as a registration permission / inhibition determination means, and the subject is registered in accordance with the user code designated in step 2. It is determined whether or not it has been registered. If it has been registered, the process proceeds to step 4, and if it has not been registered, the process proceeds to step 5. In step 4, the CPU 1 operates as a subject designation means to execute a process for adopting a registered subject as a subject at the time of sending a mail (hereinafter, a subject used at the time of sending a mail is referred to as a "send subject"). Execute and go to step 19.
As described above, the facsimile machine 20 automatically designates one of a plurality of pre-registered subjects as the subject when the subject is not specified when transmitting the mail data. And the same subject such as "weekly report", there is no need to input the same subject every time facsimile transmission is performed, which is convenient.
[0019]
On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step 5, the CPU 1 determines which one is to be used corresponding to the user code, that is, whether the priority use of the subject is designated, and if the designation is made, the process proceeds to step 6, If not, go to step 8. In step 6, it is determined whether or not the subject for which priority use of the subject is designated is registered. If the subject is registered, the process proceeds to step 7, and if not, the process proceeds to step 8. When the process proceeds to step 7, a process for adopting the registered subject as the transmission subject is executed, and the process proceeds to step 19.
As described above, the facsimile apparatus 20 allows the operator to select in advance a plurality of automatically adopted subjects from those registered for each user code, and designate the priority of the automatically adopted subjects. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the operator is increased and the usability is improved. In addition, since the automatically adopted subject can be registered in correspondence with the user code, the subject can be freely used for each of a plurality of operators using the same facsimile apparatus. But convenience is good.
[0020]
Proceeding to step 8, in this case, if the user code has not been specified, or if the user code has been specified but the subject has not been registered and the subject has not been specified for priority use, the subject has been specified for priority use. However, the specified subject is not registered. In this case, a search process is performed to search for a subject to be adopted as the transmission subject (employed subject) from among a plurality of subjects registered in advance. As a method of this search processing, the first (leading) subject among a plurality of subjects may be used as the adopted subject, or the operator may determine in advance what subject is to be adopted. The corresponding subject may be the adopted subject. In addition, the operator determines in advance the priority of the subject to be employed from among a plurality of subjects, searches for the subject according to the priority, and sets the first registered subject to the employed subject. Good.
[0021]
After executing such a search process, the process proceeds to step 9 to determine whether or not the employed subject has been searched. When the retrievable subject, that is, the retrievable subject is successfully retrieved, the process proceeds to step S10, and a process for adopting the recruited subject as the transmission subject is performed, and the process proceeds to step S19. If the recruitment subject could not be searched, the process proceeds to step 11, and it is determined again whether or not the user code has been designated. If the user code has been designated, the process proceeds to step 12, and if not, the process proceeds to step 16. . In step 12, the CPU 1 operates as an address registration means to determine whether or not a mail address is registered as a delivery destination in accordance with the designated user code, and the mail address is registered as a delivery destination. In this case, the process proceeds to step 13, a subject is created using the mail address, a process for adopting the subject as the transmission subject is performed, and the process proceeds to step 19. Here, as the subject using the mail address, for example, “From distribution destination mail address” can be considered.
[0022]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 12 that the mail address has not been registered as the distribution destination, the process proceeds to step 14 in which the CPU 1 operates as a name registration unit to determine whether the user code name is registered corresponding to the user code. Judge. Here, if the user code name is registered, the process proceeds to step 15, and if not, the process proceeds to step 16. In step 15, a subject is created using the registered user code name, a process for adopting the subject as the transmission subject is executed, and the process proceeds to step 19. Here, as the subject using the user code name, for example, “From user code name” can be considered.
[0023]
The case of proceeding to step 16 is a case where the user code name has not been registered or a case where the adoption subject cannot be determined from a plurality of pre-registered subjects and the user code has not been specified. Here, it is determined whether or not the sender information of the sender fax number and the sender name is registered. If the sender information has been registered, the process proceeds to step 17, and if the sender information has not been registered, the process proceeds to step 18. In step 17, since the sender information is registered, a process for creating a subject using the registered sender information and adopting the subject as the transmission subject is performed. Execute and go to step 19. Here, as an example of the subject using the transmission source information, for example, the following is conceivable. If the sender's fax number and the sender's name are registered together, "From sender's fax number (source name) 'is registered. If only the sender's fax number is registered," From sender's fax number "is displayed. If only the original name is registered, it is “From originator name”. If the sender information has not been registered, the process proceeds to step 18. For example, a subject that does not use registration information such as “FaxMessage” is created, and a process for adopting the subject as the transmission subject is executed. Proceed to 19.
[0024]
As described above, when the facsimile apparatus 20 does not determine a subject to be adopted even when searching for a plurality of registered subjects, the facsimile apparatus 20 uses the e-mail address of the distribution destination registered corresponding to the user code. Since it can be created, even if it is not necessary to specify a subject, the receiving side can confirm from whom the mail is from, including the mail address. Even if the e-mail address has not been registered, the subject can be created using the registered user code name corresponding to the user code. It can be confirmed by the mail subject that includes the mail address, and it is easier and more convenient to specify the transmission destination as compared with the mail subject that does not necessarily include the name information.
[0025]
By the above processing, in the facsimile machine 20 according to the present invention, the transmission subject is automatically determined even if the operator does not perform the operation of designating the subject. When the transmission subject is determined, the process proceeds to step 19 after the determination, and the CPU 1 causes the operation display unit 4 to display the transmission subject determined in the previous steps. Then, the operator can confirm the contents of the transmission subject. The operator checks the contents of the transmission subject displayed on the operation display unit 4 and determines whether or not it is appropriate. As a result of the determination, it is determined whether or not editing (correction) is necessary, and information indicating whether or not editing (correction) is required is input by operating the operation display unit 4. In response to the input of the information, the CPU 1 advances the process to step 20 to determine whether or not there is a request for editing the transmission subject. If there is an edit request, the process proceeds to step 21 and is displayed on the operation display unit 4. The editing process based on the operation input of the operation display unit 4 is executed for the transmission subject, and if not, the process ends without executing the step 21. Therefore, the final transmission subject has the content reflecting the editing process result of the operator.
[0026]
Operations for specifying a subject include the following. First, there is a method of specifying a new entry from scratch. This may be used when you want to change the subject of mail data to be sent each time. Second, there is a method in which one of the pre-registered subjects is quoted and adopted as it is. This may be used when the contents of the mail data to be transmitted each time are almost the same, and in such a case, it is desired to use the same subject. Thirdly, there is a method in which one of the subjects registered in the RAM 3 is quoted in advance, and the content is appropriately edited to be the subject. This is used when it is desired to use a partially fixed subject such as “monthly report (2001/11/30)” or “daily report (2001/12/01)”.
As described above, when the facsimile apparatus 20 automatically determines the subject without specifying the subject when starting the transmission operation, the facsimile apparatus 20 operates the determined subject after pressing the start key for starting transmission. The display on the display unit 4 is convenient because the operator can confirm the subject to be adopted as the transmission subject. Further, the subject can be edited as necessary, so that the subject can be re-designated even if the subject does not have the desired content due to forgetting to input the subject, which is also convenient in this respect.
Furthermore, when a mail subject is designated at the time of a transmission operation, a plurality of subjects stored in advance can be quoted, and can be edited even after the quote. Therefore, for example, “circulation document (2001/12/01) ) "And" Weekly Report (2001/12/07) ", the subject can be input with minimum necessary editing, and the usability is good.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is easy to use because the subject is automatically specified even if the operator does not perform an operation for specifying the subject.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a facsimile apparatus as an embodiment of a network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a communication network for performing data communication using a facsimile machine.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation relating to a subject determining process of the facsimile apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: CPU 2: ROM
3: RAM 4: Operation display unit 5: Image information reading unit 6: Image information output unit 7: Encoding / decoding unit 8: Image information storage unit 9: Modem 10: PSTN control unit 11: LAN control unit 12: Data bus 20, 30: Facsimile machine 21, 31: Personal computer (PC)
15: Internet 100: Communication network

Claims (13)

Image information reading means for reading image information of a document and outputting image data; display means having a predetermined display device; means for transmitting / receiving image data via a public line; and transmitting / receiving mail data via a network A network facsimile apparatus having
Subject registration means for registering a plurality of subjects to be attached to an e-mail for transmitting the mail data,
A subject judging means for judging whether or not the subject is specified in the mail data when sending the mail data;
When the means determines that the subject is not specified in the mail data, a subject designation for designating any one of the plurality of subjects registered in the subject registration means as a transmission subject of the mail data A network facsimile apparatus comprising means. 2. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subject designation unit designates a specific subject registered in the subject registration unit as the transmission subject. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A network facsimile apparatus, comprising: means for selecting any one of a plurality of subjects registered in the subject registration means as the transmission subject. The network facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the subject designation unit sequentially designates a subject registered in the subject registration unit as a transmission subject according to a designated priority. . 5. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subject registration unit is configured to be able to register the subject for each user-specific identification code. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 5,
Identification code determining means for determining whether or not the identification code is specified;
Registration permission / non-permission determining means for determining whether or not the subject is registered in accordance with the identification code determined to be specified by the means;
A network facsimile apparatus, wherein the subject designation unit designates a subject determined to be registered by the registration availability determination unit as the transmission subject. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 6,
Address registration means for determining whether or not a mail address is registered corresponding to the identification code as a transmission destination of the mail data,
The subject designation means determines that the subject is not specified in the mail data by the subject determination means, the identification code determination means determines that the identification code is specified, and A network facsimile apparatus, wherein when the address registration means determines that the mail address is registered correspondingly, the mail address registered corresponding to the identification code is designated as a transmission subject. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 7,
Providing name registration means for determining whether a user code name is registered corresponding to the identification code as a transmission destination of the mail data,
The subject designation means determines that the subject is not specified in the mail data by the subject determination means, the identification code determination means determines that the identification code is specified, and A network facsimile, wherein when the name registration means determines that the user code name is registered correspondingly, the user code name registered corresponding to the identification code is designated as a transmission subject. apparatus. 9. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the subject designation means designates the transmission subject using a source facsimile number or a source name. The subject designation means designates the transmission subject in the order of the subject, the mail address, the user code name, the source facsimile number or the source name registered corresponding to the identification code. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 9, wherein The network facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A network facsimile apparatus, further comprising means for displaying the subject designated by the subject designating means on the display means. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 11,
A network facsimile apparatus provided with editing means for editing the subject displayed on the display means by operation input. 13. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the editing unit is configured to be editable using a subject registered in the subject registration unit.

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